If you’re going to make the rounds of holiday parties or give one yourself, plan now to Greenify.

Going to holiday parties, you want to make sure to carpool, right? This makes it easier to save gas, save wear and tear on the car, and potentially save lives. The latter because this is the time of year when we all enjoy seeing our friends and business associates and sharing holiday foods and drinks together. Carpooling makes it much easier to designate a driver so that everyone makes it home alive. It’s better for the environment and all of us in it because we all feel better when there are fewer drunk drivers on the road.

If you are the one throwing the holiday party, consider going “old school.” Even if you are trying to cut costs and downsizing the party from country club to office commissary, forget about the past years of plastic cups and throw-away paper table coverings.

Buy a fabric tablecloth. Festive holiday clothes of all sizes can be had at discount stores for prices close to the same as those of the throw-away paper ones, but with far less of a carbon footprint.

The same goes for plates, cups, and silverware. You can rent or borrow the same, depending on the size of your party. You may be able to cut costs if you know a church that rents their hall or their linens, flatware, or other houseware items. These groups often have the items in bulk and may also be looking for ways to make extra money.

You could even purchase them at a discount store and give them away (for pickup later, after they’ve been washed) as a door prize. Choose well and they’ll be appreciated. Such things have been done before by our parents’ generation. And this time, there’s the added benefit of Greenification.

If you have to wash a few dishes, is that really so bad? A holiday party downsized per cost but upsized with glassware, silverware, and linens isn’t going to feel as sparsely provided.

And your company’s carbon footprint shrinks a little more all the way into the New Year.